Brahms: Alt-Rhapsody; Wagner: Wesendonck-Lieder; Mahler: Der Abschied

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This stunning release by mezzo (or contralto) Stephanie Blythe shows her dark, focused tone, intelligent and musical approach to the texts, and winning involvement. Schoenberg's re-orchestration of the final song from Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde is very different from the original; though sparse (only 13 instruments), it has great color, with wind instruments importantly highlighted and piano used surprisingly and effectively. Blythe and conductor John Nelson present the narrator's resignation strongly; there is agitation before true inevitability is accepted. A re-working by Hans-Werner Henze of Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder also emphasizes the wind instruments, and its refined transparency is well-suited to Blythe's mostly very lyrical, but occasionally outgoing and strong reading of the poems. Brahms's Alto Rhapsody gets a correctly intense and morbid reading, and Blythe's full sound is perfect for the occasion. The vocal group A Sei Voci and Ensemble National de Paris contribute handsomely. Highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Brahms: Alt-Rhapsody; Wagner: Wesendonck-Lieder; Mahler: Der Abschied, Music, Stephanie Blythe, Alain David Valckenaere, Guillaume Paoletti, Olivier Voize, Richard Vieille, Johannes Brahms, Gustav Mahler, Richard Wagner, Edkhard Rudolph, Michel Giboureau, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Claude Lefebvre, Daniel Catalanotti, Daniel Arrignon, Nicolas Guijarro, Jerome Granjon, Serge Soufflard, Jean Estournet, Michel Guyot, Choral, Classical, Classical Artists, Classical Vocals, Romantic Symphony, Secular Aria and Chorus, Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra, Symphonic, Vocal
Brahms: Alt-Rhapsody; Wagner: Wesendonck-Lieder; Mahler: Der Abschied
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A lovely voice in search of a conductor
  • For the Brahms Alone ...
  • Promises kept and more
 Brahms: Alt-Rhapsody; Wagner: Wesendonck-Lieder; Mahler: Der Abschied

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by BrahmsAll Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by MahlerAll Works by Mahler | Mahler, Gustav | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by WagnerAll Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
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GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0002VYIWS
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

  1. Alto Rhapsody Op. 53 For Contralto, Male Chorus And Orchestra
  2. Der Engel
  3. Stehe Still
  4. Im Treibhaus
  5. Schmerzen
  6. Traume
  7. Das Lied Von Der Erde: Der Abschied

Amazon.com

This stunning release by mezzo (or contralto) Stephanie Blythe shows her dark, focused tone, intelligent and musical approach to the texts, and winning involvement. Schoenberg's re-orchestration of the final song from Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde is very different from the original; though sparse (only 13 instruments), it has great color, with wind instruments importantly highlighted and piano used surprisingly and effectively. Blythe and conductor John Nelson present the narrator's resignation strongly; there is agitation before true inevitability is accepted. A re-working by Hans-Werner Henze of Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder also emphasizes the wind instruments, and its refined transparency is well-suited to Blythe's mostly very lyrical, but occasionally outgoing and strong reading of the poems. Brahms's Alto Rhapsody gets a correctly intense and morbid reading, and Blythe's full sound is perfect for the occasion. The vocal group A Sei Voci and Ensemble National de Paris contribute handsomely. Highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars A lovely voice in search of a conductor.......2007-07-21

In recent years Stephanie Blythe has risen rapidly in the oepra world (she was featured in a recent Met broadcast of Puccini's Suor Angelica as the curelly imperious Pincipessa), and one can hear why. She has a plush, rich tone reminiscent of Jessye Norman, firmly produced without a wobble. If that were all this challenging recital needed, I would be very enthusiastic. But in two ways it falters badly. The worst is John Nelson's choppy, flat conducting, which is perfunctory half the time and ordinary the rest. The other is Ms. Blythe's way with the text. She must feel comfortable in german to select a program of brahms, Wagner, and Mahler, but her pronunciaiton sounds as if she learned the language syllabically, and the great exts of the Alto Rhapsody (Goethe) and the Abschied from Das Lied von der Erde (translated from the Chinese of Li Po) float by neturally, with hardly a glimpse of their demotional depths.

The classical music press greeted this CD quite favorably, like the Amazon reviewer here, but unless sheer vocalism is all you care about, I can't see how a recital in search of a conductor can be considered great. The classic recordings of all three works by Janet Baker and Christa Ludwig have nothing to fear.

5 out of 5 stars For the Brahms Alone ..........2007-05-23

Stephanie Blythe's voice is exquisite, and if you have never heard her, I can't imagine a better place to start than with Brahms' Alto Rhapsody. Gorgeous tone, such sensitivity ... if this were the only piece on the CD, it would worth the price and more. But we also have an intelligent rendering of the Wesendonck Lieder and enough of Das Lied von der Erde to have us baying for a recording of the whole. What a stunning recording -- may there be may many, many more from this wonderful person!

5 out of 5 stars Promises kept and more.......2004-10-26

Stephanie Blythe further secures her position as the most exciting contralto singing today. In her previous recital album she proved that the hurdles of Bach and Handel were mere stepping-stones. Here she blossoms with extravagantly rich tone and intelligent musicianship in the Romantic repertoire of Brahms ('Alto Rhapsody'), Wagner ('Wesendonck Lieder') and Mahler (the final song 'Der Abscheid' from 'Das Lied von der Erde'). And not only does she prove that these deeply involving works lie perfectly in her control and range, she also imbues them with a rich warmth of timbre that is as fine as any recorded.

Collaborating with her again is John Nelson and Ensemble Orchestre de Paris (and the Ensemble A Sei Voci in the Brahms) and whether or not it was a joint decision between these two capable artists to use the Hans Werner Henze setting of the Wagner lieder and the Schoenberg orchestral reduction for the Mahler, the result is a freshness to the sonic approach that adds yet another dimension to this treasure of a CD. The transparency of orchestral colors coupled with the depth of Blythe's voice and interpretation are impeccable. This is a recording of tremendous importance - and beauty.

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